The very first snap of the season changed the LSU offensive line.
Junior right guard Will Blackwell was starting his first game at LSU against North Carolina, and on that first snap, junior running back Stevan Ridley rolled into his right leg. The next thing he knew, Blackwell couldn’t feel his leg.
The West Monroe native remained out since that opening game and underwent surgery after the North Carolina game, and the team assumed he would be out for the season.
LSU coach Les Miles said that might not be the case after all, and he thinks Blackwell will play Saturday against Ole Miss. Blackwell started practicing Monday after having a screw removed from his ankle about a month ago — an encouragingly quick rehabilitation for the fiery lineman.
“As the operation took place, we felt like this was a very significant injury, and it was not as likely that he would return at the end of the season,” Miles said. “But the bones grew together extremely well. … I watched him on the sideline in what was a Friday walk, and he was over there hitting a wall, stomping on his ankle and working like heck.”
Blackwell still has a plate in his ankle for the time being, but he said he can’t wait to play again in Tiger Stadium.
“I broke my leg in three places and basically tore all the ligaments in my ankle,” Blackwell said. “It was like, ‘How is this possible?'”
Sophomore center P.J. Lonergan, who has started all 10 games along with junior left guard Josh Dworaczyk and senior left tackle Joseph Barksdale, said the offensive line chemistry was slightly thrown off when Blackwell returned to practice.
“The last couple of days practicing with him, it’s felt very awkward,” Lonergan said. “But that’s expected. When he got hurt and wasn’t able to play the first few weeks, it felt awkward not having him there. Now that he’s back, it will take a couple of days to get used to it.”
Blackwell said he understands it could take a few days for the offensive line to get used to his return.
“It kinda hurt my feelings. I didn’t know how to take it,” Blackwell said with a smile. “But I understand. They’ve been without me more than they’ve been with me this season, so they kind of got into a groove.”
The team describes Blackwell as a resilient player, a quality which was even more evident after his devastating injury.
Ridley said Blackwell “means business” on the field. He and Dworaczyk are Blackwell’s roommates.
“Will has as much swag as an offensive lineman can have,” Ridley said. “He knew it wasn’t the end of his career — it’s just a setback. He probably won’t play the whole game this week, but by our bowl game he’ll catch his groove and prepare to roll into next year.”
In Blackwell’s absence, junior T-Bob Hebert, LSU’s starting center in 11 of 13 games last season, and redshirt freshman Josh Williford have earned starts at the right guard position.
Sophomore right tackle Alex Hurst went down against Alabama with a right leg injury, shaking up the line yet again.
Junior offensive tackle Greg Shaw earned his first career start in Hurst’s place against Louisiana-Monroe, and redshirt freshman Chris Faulk also played and earned Miles’ praise. Miles said he is optimistic Hurst will return Saturday.
“Chris Faulk is a big, right tackle that we might need to get some looks,” Miles said. “We’ll make sure we have the right guys on the field.”
Blackwell said it was challenging for linemen to be thrust into the starting lineup at such pivotal moments.
“They’ve won a lot of games,” he said. “We’re 9-1, so I can’t complain.”
 
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Contact Rachel Whittaker at [email protected]